8:20pm Monday 25th February 2008
MYSTERY surrounds the future of a nuclear bunker that was up for sale at auction.
The unusual lot, located at the edge of Twyford, near Winchester, was due to be sold on Tuesday, February 19, but the owners, Southern Water, withdrew it.
It is a mystery why Southern Water had a sudden change of heart and what the bunker's future now holds.
A company spokesman said: "Southern Water has decided to withdraw the bunker from public sale after an opportunity arose outside of the auction.
"Due to the commercial sensitivity of the opportunity we are unable to release further details.
"However we are extremely pleased with the interest the sale of the bunker created through auctioneers Clive Emerson."
The property had a guide price of £300,000 for the freehold, which has 2ft-thick concrete walls and 6in steel doors.
To get inside, you have to pass through two steel doors set into the hillside.
Little remains of the original use of the bunker. There is general office space, a meeting room, an IT room and a generator room.
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